Washington High Court
Upholds Antispam Law

Updated June 13, 2001 12:01 a.m. ET

In another test of state powers to regulate the Internet, the Washington Supreme Court has upheld a 1998 state law aimed at stopping mass e-mail advertising known as spam. In doing so, the court rejected arguments that the law interfered with interstate commerce.

The unanimous ruling last week was the first of its kind by a state Supreme Court and could provide the case for the U.S. Supreme Court to determine whether states can regulate online direct marketing. At least 16 other states have antispamming laws. A challenge...